While walking her dog one evening, a teenage girl named Emily Parker was stopped by two men who roughly offered to take her for a spin. She had never seen her little Westie, Lady, like this beforeher eyes blazing with fury, teeth bared in a snarl. Before Emily could even process what was happening, Lady lunged at the man who had grabbed her arm, tackling him to the ground with a growl that could curdle milk, looming over him like a tiny, furious storm cloud.
When Emily turned seven, her parents gave her a bright, spacious bedroom of her own. But she flatly refused to sleep there alone. Every night, one of her parentssometimes Mum, sometimes Dadwould tuck in beside her until she drifted off. If she woke to an empty room, shed bundle up her pillow and blanket and march straight to their bed. No amount of pleading or gentle lectures made a differenceeven as she grew older, the routine stayed the same.
Then one day, the solution tumbled into her lifeliterallyin the form of a small, fluffball puppy who promptly yelped in terror and piddled on the floor. Up close, she was utterly irresistibleso sweet and scruffy that Emily immediately begged, *Mum, can we keep her? Please?* Negotiations followed: good grades, keeping her room tidy, walking the puppy herself, andcruciallysleeping in her own bed without Mum or Dad. The first three terms were easy; the last made her hesitateuntil she realised, *But now I wont be alone!*
And so Lady came homeofficially a West Highland Terrier, but in spirit, a proper little madam with a will of iron. To everyones surprise, Emily kept her word. With Lady at her side, she slept soundly in her own room, and the dog became her constant shadowby day, on walks, and curled up beside her at night.
Lady was a proper beauty: pristine, acutely aware of her own charm, and utterly regal. Other dogs barely warranted a glance, but she tolerated childrens eager pats with patient, almost condescending graceas if humouring their admiration. Strange dogs, however, were met with bared teeth and an indignant yap.
To curb Ladys snobbery, Emily and her mum enrolled in obedience classes, dutifully attending for three weeks. But whether the trainer was inexperienced or Lady simply too strong-willed, nothing changed. The final verdict? *She sees you as her pack. She doesnt need anyone else.* Fair enoughthe three of them were happy as they were.
For walks, Emily and Lady favoured the overgrown field behind their house, where old barracks had once stood. Most dog owners opted for the tidy park nearby, but Emily loved the wild, forgotten charm of the place, with its crumbling concrete and rogue apple trees.
And it was there that Lady met her destiny.
That summer, Emily turned fifteen, and Lady eight. Emily was all long limbs and daydreams, phone always in hand. Lady, meanwhile, carried herself like a dignified duchess. They were strolling the field one eveningEmily lost in thought, Lady sniffing the grasswhen suddenly, chaos incarnate barrelled into them. A shaggy, overexcited sheepdog mix, twice Ladys size, bounded over, tail whirling like a propeller, nudging and licking her with boundless enthusiasm. Lady froze, utterly bewildered by this cheeky interloper.
*Dont worry, lovehes a softie!* called a silver-haired woman leaning on a walking stick. *Never so much as nipped anyone!*
*I can see that,* Emily laughed, crouching as the exuberant furball slobbered over her hands, tail thumping up dust clouds. *The real danger here is death by licking.*
*My grandson let him out yesterdayfirst time off our property. Saw your little one and made a beeline!*
*And mine hasnt taken her eyes off him. Think shes smitten.*
*Splendid! Twos merrier than one. This is Buster. Im Margaret.*
From then on, Buster became a fixture of their evening walks. Sometimes hed be waiting at the field; if he was late, Lady would let out a high-pitched trilland sure enough, hed come barrelling over. Theyd chase through the grass, roll in the dirt, then flop under the apple tree while Emily read and Margaret shared stories (and biscuits).
But one September evening, as dusk fell, trouble arriveda black SUV roaring onto the field, music blaring, three drunk lads spilling out. Two lurched toward Emily, flanking her. She backed under the tree, hit record on her phone, and whispered to Lady: *Fetch Buster. Now.*
Lady didnt need telling twiceshe erupted into deep, furious barks.
*Oi, proper little guard dog!* one lad sneered, grabbing Emilys arm. *Come on, lovewell give you a lift. Promise well return you mostly intact.*
*You really dont want to do this,* Emily said flatly. *Theres another dog coming. Best scarper while youve still got all your limbs.*
They laugheduntil a snarling, frothing blur of fur slammed into them. Buster, usually a waggy-tailed goof, looked feralteeth bared, hackles raised, pinning one lad down like a hairy avalanche. The other bolted for the SUV, screeching off into the night.
Emily called the police. When officers arrived, they found one petrified lad soaked in drool, whimpering under a very angry sheepdog. *Alright, Buster, thats enough,* Emily said, tugging his collar. *Ugh, youll catch something foul. Let him go dry his trousers.*
As autumn deepened, Buster vanished one evening. At Margarets house, an ambulance stood outsideshed fallen ill, her neighbour explained. *Shell pull through, but well, Buster cant stay with me. My old terrier wouldnt stand for it.*
*Well take him,* Emily said.
Buster, though thrilled by Ladys company, stayed sombre. Each time Emily returned from visiting Margaret, hed sprint to the door, hope flaring in his eyesonly to droop when she didnt say *Shes home.*
Then Margarets son arrived. *Were moving her in with us,* he told Emily. *But a cramped flats no place for a big dog*
*Hes already family,* Emily said. *Just let them video call. Itll cheer them both up.*
On the windowsill, wrapped in a blanket, Emily watched rain patter the field. Below, two dogs lay nose-to-nose, breathing in sync.
One story had ended. But somewhere beyond the raina new one was beginning. One with warmth, home, and the quiet rumble of a loyal growl that meant more than words.
